Genesis and Geography of University–Industry Partnerships in France: When Interpersonal Ties Matter

Some case studies have recently advanced our understanding of university-industry partnerships, showing that the relationships used to form such collaboration are a key factor. However, the weight of interpersonal relationships in the formation of University-industry partnerships remains to be measured more precisely, along with their impact on the geography of partnerships. This paper compiles relational data collected through semi-structured interviews, to identify the interpersonal relationships that impacted the formation of 244 such partnerships. A quantitative treatment reveals that 43% of partnerships were made possible by interpersonal ties, but that only non-professional ties have a significant impact on the geography of partnerships. JEL classification: D71, D85, O31.